Philodendron red moon plant named ‘Fire Moon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Philodendron  Red Moon named ‘Fire Moon’ particularly characterized by its distinctive leaf appearance; large plant size; mostly open and outwardly spreading fuller plant habit; vigor and slow growth rate; less-freely branching; flat leaves; and long and wide petioles with long petiole sheaths.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhilodendron Red Moon plant, botanically known as Araceae PhilodendronRed Moon, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Fire Moon.’

The new Philodendron Red Moon is a product of an accidental breeding bythe Inventor in Umatilla, Fla.

The new Philodendron Red Moon originated from an accidental breedingmade by the Inventor in May 2021, of an unidentified selection of theAraceae Philodendron Red Moon. The cultivar ‘Fire Moon’ was discoveredand selected by the Inventor on May 2021, as a fully grown plant in a 8″Growers Pot container within the progeny of the self-pollination in acontrolled environment in Umatilla, Fla.

Compared to plants of the parent selection, plants of the newPhilodendron Red Moon are larger, branch earlier, are less freelybranching, and have a fuller plant habit and longer petioles.

Asexual propagation of the new Philodendron Red Moon by cuttings atUmatilla, Fla. has shown that the unique features of this newPhilodendron Red Moon plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Philodendron Red Moon has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,fertilizer rate, and/or irrigation amount and frequency without anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fire Moon.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fire Moon’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are self-heading, not        vining, and are self-supporting.    -   2. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are relatively large        in size with a mostly upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and        open plant habit.    -   3. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are vigorous and have        a slow growth rate.    -   4. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon branch slowly and are        early branching.    -   5. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon have large, thick,        smooth, and flat leaves with one-half light red and one-half        light yellow-green.    -   6. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon have relatively long        petioles and long, green, pink, and red-colored petiole sheaths.

Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon can be compared to plants of thecommercial Philodendron cultivars ‘Little Hope’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.26,282) and ‘Prince of Orange’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 06,797). However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Umatilla, Fla., plants of the newPhilodendron Red Moon differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’and ‘Prince of Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are larger and are        more outwardly spreading and open than plants of the cultivar        ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   2. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are less vigorous,        form branches earlier and are less freely branching than plants        of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are        thicker, more ovate in shape with truncate bases, and have more        numerous primary veins than leaves of plants of the cultivar        ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   4. Leaf color of plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon is        darker green and there is a more striking contrast between the        mid rib and the surrounding leaf tissue compared to leaves of        plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   5. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon have longer and wider        petioles than plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince        of Orange.’ In addition, the shape of the petiole also differs        longer, wider, and with green, red, and pink markings.    -   6. Leaf petiole sheaths of plants of the new Philodendron Red        Moon are greener and darker in color than leaf petiole sheaths        of plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’        Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon can also be compared to        plants of the commercial Philodendron Red Moon cultivar “‘Little        Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’ However, in side-by-side        comparisons conducted in Umatilla, Fla., plants of the new        Philodendron Red Moon differ from plants of the cultivar ‘Little        Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange’ in the following characteristics:    -   1. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are larger and are        more outwardly spreading and open than plants of the cultivar        ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   2. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are less vigorous,        form branches earlier and are less freely branching than plants        of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon are        thicker, more ovate in shape with truncate bases and have more        numerous primary veins than leaves of plants of the cultivar        ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   4. Leaf color of plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon is half        yellow-green, half red whereas leaf color of plants of the        cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange’ is green.        Additionally, there is a more striking contrast between the        midrib and the surrounding leaf tissue on plants of the new        Philodendron Red Moon compared to leaves of plants of the        cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   5. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon have longer and wider        petioles than plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince        of Orange.’ In addition the shape of the petiole also differs.    -   6. Leaf petiole sheaths of plants of the new Philodendron Red        Moon are greener and darker in color than leaf petiole sheaths        of plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’    -   7. Plants of the new Philodendron Red Moon flower later than        plants of the cultivar ‘Little Hope’ and ‘Prince of Orange.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Philodendron Red Moon ‘Fire Moon,’ showing the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type.

The photographs on sheets one through four comprise top perspectiveviews of a typical plant of ‘Fire Moon’ including immature leaves in a(size, e.g. 15 cm) container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown in Umatilla, Fla., under a polycarbonate-covered greenhouseand conditions which closely approximate those used in general, standardcommercial horticultural practice. Plants were grown in fertilized soilunder day temperatures ranging from 25 to 32 C and night temperaturesranging from 22 to 27 C. Light level ranged from 800 to 2,000footcandles.

Plants used for this description were asexually reproduced by takingcuttings (twigs), rooted and planted into fertilized soil in 15-cmcontainers. Information was collected for this description and thecultivar comparisons in May, 2022, when the plants were about 2 monthsold from taking cuttings (twigs). Numerical measurements representaverages from typical plants. Environmental conditions were tropical,humid, and required less water than typical Philodendron Red Moon.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Araceae Philodendron Red Moon cultivar    ‘Fire Moon.’-   Parentage: Self-pollination of an unidentified selection of Araceae    Philodendron Red Moon.    -   -   Propagation: type.—By taking cuttings (twigs).        -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 21 days at about 25 to            30° C. Winter: About 28 days at about 22 to 27° C.        -   Time to develop (time to produce a rooted liner).—Summer:            About 10 to 12 weeks at about 25 to 30° C. Winter: About 13            to 14 weeks at about 22 to 27 C.        -   Rooting habit.—Strong root system. Main roots thick;            abundant lateral roots. Thick short aerial roots are            occasionally observed.-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Self-heading, not vining, and self-supporting.            Mostly upright, but outwardly spreading, open, freely            branching, Somewhat asymmetrical; mature plants, more            rounded in overall shape. Appropriate for 15 to 25-cm            containers.        -   Plant size.—Height, Soil Surface to top of leaf canopy:            About 50.7 cm. Width: About 99.2 cm.        -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous, slow growth rate.        -   Crop time.—About 48 to 52 weeks are required to produce a 40            to 50-cm tall plant in a 15-cm container from a 1 to 2-cm            taken cutting (twigs).        -   Foliage description.—Shape of leaves on young plants:            Between elliptic and ovate; apex, acuminate with some acute            tendencies, base, obtuse; margin, entire. Shape of leaves on            older plants: Ovate, apex, acuminate with Some acute            tendencies, base, truncate; margin, entire. Length, mature            leaves: About 36.7 cm. Width, mature leaves: About 18.8 cm.            Length to width ratio, mature leaves: About 1.95 to 1.            Aspect: Almost flat; Slightly concave at the petiole            attachment. Texture: Thick, leathery, smooth. Surface:            Glossy; young leaves very glossy. Color: Young, upper            surface: At unrolling: Slightly darker than 144A. Once            unrolled: Much darker than 144A. Young, lower Surface: 144A.            Mature, upper surface: Darker than 147A. About 1mm wide band            along margin, lighter green, 144A. Mature, lower surface:            Darker and Slightly greener than 144A, with subsequent            development, leaf becomes slightly darker and greener than            147B. Venation, upper Surface of mature leaves: Midrib            adjacent to petiole, 144B to 146B to 146C with short darker            green striae; distal, darker green, 147A. Primary veins are            slightly lighter green than surrounding leaf tissue.            Venation, lower surface of mature leaves: midrib and primary            veins, mostly 146C. Petiole aspect: Erect to semi erect.            Petiole shape: Rounded lower Surface; upper Surface Slightly            concave. Petiole length, primary shot: About 43.4cm. Petiole            diameter, just below leaf blade: About 10.3 mm. Petiole            sheath length: About 21.2 cm. Petiole color, young leaves:            144A to 146C with short darker green striae. Petiole color,            upper Surface of mature leaves: Adjacent to leaf blade,            close to 146A to 146B with Some 144A, proximally darker to            146A to 147B; slightly lighter near base. Short darker green            Striae. Petiole color, lower Surface of mature leaves:            Adjacent to leaf blade, close to 146B to 146D and 14.4A to            144B; proximally darker, close to 146A, base, close to 144A.            Short darker green striae. Petiole sheath:144B and 144D with            short darker green striae, Some grayed orange, close to 166C            to 166D, present at proximal end near edges, more noticeable            at distal end.        -   Inflorescence.—Typical of Philodendron Red Moon, no            commercial significance. Plants typically form            inflorescences about 18 to 23 months after planting of a            twig taken from cutting. Description of inflorescences taken            from plants grown for about 2.5 years after planting a twig            taken from cutting.        -   Arrangement.—Spathes with spadices with one to three            inflorescences in each floral sympodium. Each developing            inflorescence enclosed by two sheaths, which deteriorate            before spathe opens. Spathes erect, situated near shoot base            on short, thick, usually bent peduncles. Spathes typically            tightly tolled around spadices, Spathes typically open for            about one day. When spathes are open, the spadix is fully            exposed, leaning forward beyond spathe margins, at about 50            to penduncle axis.        -   Fragrance.—Weak, Similar to other Philodendrons, but weaker.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 7.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Color: 144B or between 144B and 144C.        -   Spathe.—Shape: Boat-shaped; longitudinal section elliptic;            apex between acuminate and cuspidate; base, obtuse; margin,            entire and usually rolled back especially distally. Length:            About 18.3 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Length to width ratio:            About 2.4 to 1. Depth: About 4.8 cm. Texture: Very thick,            fleshy, not glossy. Color: Open, front surface: Between 47A            and 47B around spadix base, distally and toward margin, much            lighter, 48D to 49D to close to 159C near apex with some            scattered light pink. Some yellow green, 144B, on midrib and            along margins near apex. Open, rear surface: Most of the            central Zone of proximal half is an uneven color, varying            between different combinations of 146C, 146D, 144A, 144B and            144C. Color becomes lighter and more yellow towards margins,            near margins, between145Cand 145D and translucent. In the            distal half, there is a band along midrib between 144B, and            146C and 146D. Spathe color on either side of this band is            variable, but much lighter and more yellow, most areas more            yellow than 145C and more green than 150C. Often there is a            wide, almost whitish, translucent band on one side near the            margin.        -   Spadix.—Shape: Cylindrical, Strongly tapering towards acute            apex. Female Zone, Situated at the base, shorter than the            male Zone and Separated by an intermediate Sterile Zone.            Sterile and male Zones not clearly distinguished when Spathe            is open. Spadices typically sessile. Length: About 17.1 cm;            female Zone, about 4.8 cm; Sterile and male Zones combined,            about 12.6 cm. Diameter: Female Zone, about 1.9 cm; sterile            and male zones, about 1.8 cm proximally. Color: Female Zone,            between 145C and 145D; sterile and male zones, slightly            darker than 159C. Pollen: Cream in color. Dehiscence about            one to three days after spathe closes.        -   Seed production.—Seed production has not been observed.            Typically, spathes and spadices gradually deteriorate after            spathe closure.-   Disease tolerance: Resistance to pathogens common to Philodendron    Red Moon has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron RedMoon plant named ‘Fire Moon’, as illustrated and described.